ABOUT THE MULTICULTURAL NEWSLETTER . . .
The concept of the Multicultural Newsletter is to provide an avenue for information, updates, opinions, news, and events that will expand the cultural horizons of all Ripon College students. Each issue will include upcoming cultural student
organization events, articles and opinion pieces by Ripon College students, and see the great things the student activities office is doing. The ultimate hope of this newsletter is that the reader(s) will find him/herself more aware of the cultural
atmosphere and events present not only on the Ripon College campus, but around the United States and the world.
SPRING 2013 EDITION
INSIDE THIS ISSUE :
HOME AWAY FROM
HOME PROGRAM
1
MLK WEEK 2013 2
BLACK H ISTORY-
MONTH
3
WOMEN ’S H ISTORY
MONTH
CULTURE WEEK/
BUCKS GAME
SPRING BREAK TRIP/
STUDENT PERSPEC-
TIVE
UPCOMING EVENTS/
NEW MULTICULTUR-
AL POSITION
3
4
5
6
MULTICULTURAL NEWSLETTER
—A caring and supportive
hand or ear, lots of hugs
And most of all, friendship.
On January 28, 2013, the
current host families and
Ripon students gathered
for a meal to start the
spring semester! Laughs
and stories were shared
with fun for all.
28 January 2013
By Kyonna Withers
The Home Away from
Home program links
international students at
Ripon College with area
families and couples. It
gives the students a
broader and deeper
experience of American
culture. And it gives
students local “parents”
who can cheer them on
when they participate in
college activities.
Some of the things local
parents have provided
include:
—Occasional lunch or
dinner off-campus
—Transportation to and
from airports, shopping
malls, grocery stores
—Family activities like
water-skiing, movies,
holiday dinners, birthday
celebrations
—Trips to museums, state
parks, concerts, and other
special events
—A quiet refuge away
from the residence halls
—Advice on classes,
campus jobs, graduate
school, romance, etc.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME PROGRAM
In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21, Ripon College held a series of events to engage the college community in his dream:
The Inauguration Oath Screening on Monday, January 21, was successful as we watched as President Barack Obama renewed
his vow to lead the nation in his second term.
MLK Week Brunch on Tuesday, Jan. 22 celebrated the Ripon community and community leaders who emulate the ideals
of Martin Luther King Jr. The faculty, staff and student winners (in that order) are pictured to the left.
Tim Wise provided the week’s keynote Address on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Great Hall.
Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. Recently named
among the 25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World by “Utne Reader,” Wise has spoken in 49 states,
on more than 600 college campuses and to community groups across the nation about white privilege in America, comparative racism, race
and education.
“5 Issues, 5 Leaders, 5 Minutes” on Thursday January 24 was an interactive workshop featuring five prominent Ripon
leaders condensing their most thought-provoking and critical perspectives into five intense minutes on issues within one of
five topics: media, arts, education, economy and activism. This event had audience members reflecting and thinking about
how they view society and how they observe others.
“Continuing the Legacy: What’s Next?” was a 20-minute interactive workshop led by Pieper Chair of
Servant Leadership David William Scott, in remembrance of Martin Luther King and continuing his dream.
Giving Back Community Service: Guest House Homeless Shelter was on Saturday, Jan. 26. Volunteers spent time at
a homeless shelter in Milwaukee which serves meals to at least 85 homeless people daily. Food donations were
accepted in the Student Activities Office prior to the event. Established in 1982 in Milwaukee, the Guest House is a
drop-in center for the homeless.
PAGE 2 MULTICULTURAL NEWSLETTER
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WEEK 2013! !
Source- http://www.ripon.edu/blog/2013/01/18/celebrating-martin-luther-king-jr/
By: Kyonna Withers
Women’s History Month 2013 had the theme of the Perfect 10?! What is the Perfect 10? And who determines if a woman is or isn't it? This was the main focus for the month of March. The month’s activities ranged from a kick off event., multiple trips off campus for leisure and for community service, an empowerment fair, a zumba class, a keynote speaker and a women's appreciation day. During the appreciation day women all over campus were given flowers and button mirrors (actual mirrors with the back of the mirror stating the women’s confidence pledge). Ladies were delighted to know that there was a day to honor them as strong females on this campus. During the month the traveling Barbie also attended events. This life size image of “Barbie” (presumed to be the Perfect 10) was a representation that if Barbie was a real person she wouldn't be able to walk or stand due to the disproportion of her bust and waist to lead to the thought “we all are perfect just the way we are”.
BLACK H ISTORY MONTH 2013! !
They had wonderful attendance at all of their events and tried something new this year; a her-itage fashion show. Articles of clothing were flown in from all over the world to be displayed and worn for the school to see.
The organization has also gone under new leadership with ris-ing junior Clarence Sanon ‘15 taking the lead for 2013-2014.
The Black Student Union provided a great month of events to celebrate Black History. They started with a comedic approach co-sponsoring with SMAC for comedian Seaton Smith and ended with an educational thought provoking lesson on why a certain race group thought the way they did through Daryl Davis (African American Klu Klux Klan researcher).
Their theme for the month was “Establishing a presence in light of our past” which was a powerful tagline to focus all the events on.
PAGE 3 SPRING 2013 EDITION
WOMEN ’S H ISTORY MONTH 2013! !
Pictured above are Kyonna W, Assistant Di-rector of Student Activi-ties and Michael Crider (multicultural and inter-national student assis-tant) at the kick off event.
For a fun activity the multicultural students were invited to go see the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Atlanta Hawks at BMO Harris Bradley center. The students had so much fun they didn't want to leave the arena. “Its great to be able to get off campus and partake in one of America’s favorite hobbies” said an international student. Various trips are planned yearly for multicultural and international students throughout the year.
CULTURE WEEK
PAGE 4 MULTICULTURAL NEWSLETTER
CULTURE WEEK 2013 IS THE FIRST TO HAPPEN OF ITS KIND. THIS WEEK WAS PRODUCED SOLELY FROM THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY CLUB AND ENCOMPASSED A FULL WEEK’S WORTH OF ACTIVITIES FROM VARIOUS CULTURES AND LANGUAGES. THE MOST POPULATED EVENTS WERE INTERNATIONAL DINNER AND THE TRIP TO THE WORLD MARKET IN APPLETON. GREAT JOB TO CDC ON A GREAT CULTURE WEEK!
SOCIAL ACTIVITY WITH THE BUCKS
Snow snow go away! Come again next winter! To get away from the snow, this year’s spring break trip was to Mall of America in Bloomington Minnesota. Students were able to walk around the mall, get on roller coasters, dine in the various restaurants, see movies in IMAX, attend a professional NBA game, go swimming and much more! Pictured to the
right is the group dinner at Rain Forest Café during the trip. International students had a wonderful spring break and have already provided suggestions for fall break.
to be in a position to be a student face of Ripon College’s multicultural and international programming.
How much a year has changed things! KP is no longer here, instead the wonderful Kyonna Withers is and it was an amazing experience to work with her. Her characteristic humor and her remarkable drive to provide much different events than Ripon College had experienced was truly marvelous to be a part of. I also have gained a better appreciation for what
makes an event successful and especially for the amount of work that so many of the staff members put in to make Ripon College a successful undertaking. There are innumerous memories from this past year from Kyonna and I dancing during an event with rrRumba to MLK Week with its new awards brunch, this year was busy and yet for much of the time it didn’t feel too much like work. I couldn’t have asked for better colleagues either be it the students who stood on committees to the various student organizations.
Next year I plan to be staying in this position and I have always advocated for an increased role for student organizations and for the most part I believe that we were successful this year in doing that, but I hope that next year even more organizations will contribute. The more students, staff and faculty that help in educating the campus and in introducing new and varying ideas, the better. I look forward to what next year will bring!
By: Michael Crider
Last year around this time I was being evaluated for my work for SAO by Melissa Bemus and Kristen Pearson. They broached the subject of taking a more active role in the Office and we went through the various positions and their roles. The one that stood out to me was the Multicultural and International Student Affairs Assistant (MISA) position and so I made it clear that I would most like that position over any other, and that is how a white male came
PAGE 5 SPRING 2013 EDITION
SPRING BREAK TRIP
THE YEAR THAT WAS : MULTICULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AFFAIRS EDITION
Rosh Hashanah September 4
-6
Home Series Dinners– every
Tuesday in September
Black Student Union’s
Welcome Back BBQ–
September 11 5:30pm Scott
Hall
Hispanic Heritage Month
celebration– September 18,
5:30pm Pickard Dining
Room
Native American Day–
September 27
LGBT History Month–
month of October
Higher Education Diversity
Initiative Team conference–
October 3, all over campus
International Month– month
of November
Black Student Union’s Soul
Food Dinner– November 10
5:15pm Great Hall
World Aids Day– December
1
(many more to add, check the
calendar of events weekly!)
300 W. Seward St. Ripon, WI 54971
The Office of Student Activities and Orientation Phone: 920-748-8112 http://www.ripon.edu/studentlife/student_activities/misa/misa.html Editor of newsletter: Kyonna Withers Assistant Director of Student Activities E-mail: [email protected]
activities for the
students, and
provide ongoing
support during
their college
experience. The
person will also
help design cultural
sensitivity training
for the campus
while assisting in
providing relevant
programs for the
broader college
There will be a new
Assistant Director
for Multicultural
Student
Recruitment and
Program
Development on
campus in the fall!
This person will
work to recruit
domestic students
from diverse
backgrounds,
facilitate orientation
community. The
search is currently
underway so by the
time fall semester is
here you will be
able to meet this
new individual!
Come by
Admissions or
Student Activities
when you arrive
back on campus in
August to meet our
new Ripon
NEW MULTICULTURAL LIASON TO JOIN SAO!
UPCOMING EVENTS & HOLIDAYS
Please feel free to submit relevant and appropriate articles, stories, events, and more to Kyonna Withers for publication consideration.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of Student Activities and Orientation or the Ripon College community.
colleague and see
what great things
are in store!